The Northern NPP Concerned Youth Group has declared its support for Minority Leader Alexander Afenyo-Markin and the Minority Caucus, while calling on the Ghana Gold Board (GoldBod) to provide clear answers over the reported GH¢22 billion loss linked to the Bank of Ghana’s Domestic Gold Purchase Programme.

In a statement, the group said its support for the Minority leadership was rooted in its commitment to transparency, accountability and good governance.

The group accused the governing National Democratic Congress (NDC) administration of failing to uphold those principles and alleged that the government had resorted to intimidation and attempts to silence critical voices.

It said the ongoing controversy surrounding the reported US$1.7 billion loss required serious public scrutiny rather than personal attacks against individuals raising questions about the transaction.

The group took particular exception to comments attributed to GoldBod Chief Executive Officer Sammy Gyamfi, who described Mr Afenyo-Markin as an “extortionist” after the Minority Leader raised concerns about the reported losses.

According to the Northern NPP Concerned Youth Group, Mr Gyamfi’s response amounted to an attempt to divert attention from the substantive issues surrounding GoldBod’s involvement in the Domestic Gold Purchase Programme.

“The CEO’s attempt to personalize a matter of grave national importance is a deliberate strategy to evade accountability and mislead the public,” the group stated.

It argued that the Minority Caucus had a constitutional responsibility to scrutinise the management of public resources and therefore had every right to demand explanations regarding the reported losses.

The group questioned why Mr Gyamfi had allegedly chosen to focus on the Minority Leader instead of directly addressing concerns about GoldBod’s role in the programme.

“Why, then, is Sammy Gyamfi intent on personalizing this critical national matter? Why can he not respond directly to the legitimate concerns raised about GoldBod’s role in the Domestic Gold Purchase Programme and the resultant losses?” it asked.

The group further called on Mr Gyamfi to explain the circumstances surrounding the reported losses and outline measures to prevent similar financial losses in the future.

It praised Mr Afenyo-Markin and the Minority Caucus for what it described as their commitment to protecting the national interest and demanding accountability from public institutions.

The Northern NPP Concerned Youth Group also urged Mr Gyamfi to withdraw his “extortionist” comment and apologise to the Minority Leader, describing the allegation as an attempt to undermine legitimate parliamentary scrutiny.

The group reaffirmed its commitment to supporting the Minority Caucus in its oversight responsibilities and called for transparency in the management of Ghana’s resources.